Can we make it happen?

On Maundy Thursday I shared pieces of the Ubuntu Journey to Sierra Leone with the Valparaiso 1st United Methodist Women. In preparation for the program, I was transported back to the warmth, smiling faces, the hugs of welcome, amazing singing and praise worship, and wonderful meals throughout the journey.

Our lives get away from us once we get home.  We had families waiting for us to help finalize the holiday preparations.  And once we left, the women of Sierra Leone who had so carefully planned for our every minute had to return to their waiting jobs after being set aside because our team had arrived and our journey together was in full swing. What would we have done without Beatrice and Matilda? Their roles are so vital in the UMWO in Sierra Leone.   These women with the help of many others made our journey so valuable and memorable.    



Princess making candy
 cane ornaments

Today I would love to have another conversation with the girls at Harford School for Girls. We had the greatest girls who attended to all of our needs for our overnight at the school. Meet Princess. She's in her final year at Harford and seemed to rise to the occasion of taking care of house guests. She is seated at the dining room table of house where we stayed and we are making a Christmas decoration using some special beads and red pipe cleaners. All the girls loved the activity and they were then prepared to teach the children in the pre-school. 

 

Tatmata

Marina

As we were working much later in the evening than the generator was fueled for, Princess made her way to the generator to put more petro in so we could continue with our activities of making Christmas decorations and having a photo shoot. By the end of the evening, the girls had at least one 5x7, two 4x6 and four wallet sized photos to share. They were thrilled. That's why it was so important to fill the generator with petro. All wanted their photos before we got on a schedule for the next day.



Alison with the candy
cane earrings!

How nice it is to be thinking about our less than 24 hours on the campus of the girls school. This school has a long history of preparing young women for leadership roles. Beatrice Fofanah who now leader the Women's Desk for UMWO is a product of this school. Each of these girls are looking forward to making a difference in their area of influence in the future. Our United Methodist Women continue with their support of this school that impacts the lives of many. 
 

I'm not sure what all it would take but this school would benefit from a large generator so that power consistent enough to give these girls a computer lab. Computer access would give these girls a link to the world outside and help prepare them for university studies.  Can you imagine a school here that would not have at least a computer lab?    How can we make this happen?   If we could find $20,000 this impossible thought today would be possible very quickly. 
As you can tell the Ubuntu Journey never really ends.  Thanks UMW for giving this opportunity to not only the women here in the US but to our sisters around the world.